Giandomenico Picco | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/profile/giandomenico-picco
Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voiceen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2016Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:29:48 GMT2016-12-09T16:29:48Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2016The Guardianhttps://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttps://www.theguardian.com
To help Syria, talk first to Iran and Saudi Arabia | Giandomenico Picco and Gabrielle Rifkindhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/12/help-syria-talk-iran-saudi-arabia
Negotiation between the two sides in the Syrian conflict should come only after regional power brokers' interests are recognised<p>News that the Assad government is <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/feb/11/syrian-minister-meet-opposition-leader" title="">ready to send a minister abroad for talks with the leader of the opposition Syrian National Coalition</a> raises some hope that a negotiated solution might be possible in Syria. But the violence was fuelled right from the beginning by both domestic politics and regional geopolitical rivalries. At a local level those protesting had been caught up in the momentum of the Arab spring. They were calling for political empowerment, dignity and more control over their lives. The heavy-handed response of the government was to sow the seeds for a civil war.</p><p>But the scene was already set as a result of a key dynamic in the region: the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which will be a crucial element in defining the future shape of the region. There are other forces at work, and Russia and the US are still influential, but future power brokers will have to address the regional mutations under way.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/12/help-syria-talk-iran-saudi-arabia">Continue reading...</a>SyriaMiddle East and North AfricaWorld newsIranSaudi ArabiaTue, 12 Feb 2013 18:16:57 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/12/help-syria-talk-iran-saudi-arabiaPhotograph: Sana/REUTERS'Whether President Assad stays or remains need not to be a precondition but a rather a result of the negotiations.' Photograph: Sana/ReutersPhotograph: Sana/REUTERS'Whether President Assad stays or remains need not to be a precondition but a rather a result of the negotiations.' Photograph: Sana/ReutersGiandomenico Picco and Gabrielle Rifkind2013-02-12T18:16:57Z